Team of Destiny?

Also: Day in Review, 5/6/1949

Team of Destiny?

Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking. You’re going to tell me that it’s only early May, that other teams have started the year with 10 straight wins, that other teams have been 15-2 or whatever and have lost it.

But I think there’s something special to this 1949 Pirates team.

This game made me a believer.

Comeback

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve simply got no time for small talk or tiptoeing around the issue today. Let’s get right to the business at hand.

The Phillies were cruising in this one, going into the top of the 9th with a 5-2 lead. I was sure that Pittsburgh was done. You can see it in my eyes in the video. You can hear it in my voice.

And then, well, the Pirates started coming back. A single here, a single there, and, next thing you know, Johnny Hopp was up there with runners on first and third and nobody out:

The Hopp single scored one and sent another to third, which meant that the pitcher’s spot was due up next.

Now, you’d think that the Pirates would take Murray Dickson out of this game. He’d given up 5 runs, after all, and the team was still down by 2.

Maybe they’d leave him in, though. But you’d have him bunt, right? At least get that runner on first over to second.

Nope. The computer manager strikes again:

I’m going to be straight with you. I know that I was managing the Phillies. But, still, I just love this.

I love the idea of letting Dickson hit for himself. I love the fact that the inept Philadelphia defense couldn’t even get one out on this double play ball. And I love the fact that this was suddenly a 5-4 ballgame, and that Pittsburgh was back in it.

Up next was Pete Castiglione:

Now there was one out. There were runners on second and third. Do you think I’m going to pitch to Ralph Kiner in this situation?

Of course I’m not, lol.

Eddie Bockman was due up next. I decide to stick with starting pitcher Russ Meyer, but only to see if he could get out of this. I’ve got a thing for complete games. I know, I know, it’s a problem. I swear I’ll make an appointment with my local sabermetric doctor when I’ve got a few minutes.

Yeah, I should have made that pitching change earlier.

Out went Meyer, and in came Ken Trinkle. I could have gone for Jim Konstanty, who was technically available. Jim pitched yesterday, however, and I didn’t want to overuse him too much at this point in the season.

Up came Ed Fitz Gerald:

Now the score was 7-5.

That was the end of it. The Phillies got out of the inning, and then went down in order in the bottom of the 9th.

Yeah, you’re not seeing things. Dickson is now 4-0, despite having a pretty poor game. The Phillies scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd and still lost. And this Pirate team is red hot.

Other Action

Yankees 13, White Sox 1: At Chicago, Cuddles Marshall threw a complete game for New York. Watch the game here.

Tigers 5, Athletics 1: At Detroit, the Tigers got an early lead and never relinquished it. Watch the game here.

Senators 5, Browns 2: At St. Louis, the Brownies only managed 4 hits off Washington pitching, but somehow got 2 runs in the process.

Cubs 7, Dodgers 5: At Brooklyn, the Dodgers came back after being down 5-0, only to lose it in the end. The 1949 Dodgers shouldn’t be losing games like this to the Cubs.

Reds 3, Braves 2: At Boston, the Braves scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th and looked sure to win, loading the bases with two outs. It wasn’t meant to be. Read the summary here.

Cardinals 1, Giants 0: At New York, this was one of those rare 1-0 games that I decided not to write about in the end. St. Louis scored a run in the top of the first that was manufactured almost entirely by Enos Slaughter’s speed. There just wasn’t anything else to write about. Watch the game here.

Pirates 7, Phillies 5: At Philadelphia, see above.

Standings

Can somebody out there please explain to me why the 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates are playing so well? They’re 15-2 and have only given up 44 runs in 17 games. What’s going on?